GAINESVILLE, Fla. (September 17, 2006) The University of South Florida women's tennis team capped its season-opening weekend by splitting singles play with Duke University. The Bulls suffered some hardship in doubles action however, as they were swept in all three matches by Florida.
USF junior Courtney Vernon continued to shine in singles play, going undefeated in the tournament with a 7-5, 6-0 defeat of Melissa Mang of Duke. In her three total matches played, Vernon lost just one set.
Seniors Shadisha Robinson and Gabriela Duch were trying to join Vernon in the unbeaten ranks in the tournament with their perfect play in doubles, but fell short against the Gators' Lolita Frangulyan and Diana Srebrovic, 8-5. Duch and Robinson had rolled through the competition up to today's match, including wins over two top-25 ranked doubles teams, (Daniela Berech and Elizabeth Plotkin of Duke and Audra Cohen and Laura Vallerdu of Miami).
Junior Liz Cruz and sophomore Iciri Rai were the other Bulls to post victories on the day, with singles wins over Jenny Zika and Kristin Cargill, both of Duke. The pair won their respective matches with identical scores of 6-4, 6-3.
As a team, Cruz and Rai could not get past UF's Whitney Benik and Nina Suvak, as the Gators won 8-1 in doubles play. UF completed the sweep with an 8-0 run against Shaena Keefe and Ashley Schumacher.
The women's tennis team will rest for a week before taking part in the Riviera/ITA All-American Tournament in Pacific Palisades, California. The event will begin with qualifying starting on September 30 and running through October 8.
2006 Gator Fall Classic
Ring Tennis Complex, Gainesville, Fla.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Doubles
Lolita Frangulyan/Diana Srebrovic (38), Florida def. Gabriela Duch/Shadisha Robinson (18), USF 8-5
Whitney Benik/Nina Suvak (33), Florida def. Liz Cruz/Iciri Rai, USF 8-1
Csilla Borsanyi/Alex Liles, Florida def. Shaena Keefe/Ashley Schumacher, USF 8-0
Singles
Courtney Vernon (43), USF def. Melissa Mang (55), Duke 7-5, 6-0
Elizabeth Plotkin, Duke def. Shadisha Robinson (72), USF 6-4, 6-3
Liz Cruz (68), USF def. Jenny Zika, Duke 6-0, 7-6
Amanda Granson, Duke def. Gabriela Duch, USF 6-3, 6-3
Iciri Rai, USF def. Kristin Cargill, Duke 6-4, 6-3
Jessi Robinson, Duke def. Shaena Keefe, USF 6-0, 6-0
Emily Mowery, Miami def. Ashley Schumacher, USF 6-0, 6-0
